Each night we'll provide you with the nine top story lines from the day's action, beginning with the stars of the day, and look ahead to the next day's matchups.
Jacob deGrom almost paid Johan Santana the ultimate tribute on the anniversary of his no-hitter. DeGrom pitched eight innings, allowing just two hits and zero earned runs, while striking out eight. He carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, but gave up a single to Clint Barmes in the bottom of the frame. The Mets won 7-0.
Albert Pujols is closing in on a milestone of his own. After bashing two home runs on Monday, Pujols now sits at 533 for his career, which is only one shy of Jimmie Foxx for 17th all-time. He ended the day 3 for 5 with three RBIs in a 7-3 win over the Rays.
Here are more highlights from Monday's games:
Impact Players:
C — Chris Stewart, Pirates: Stewart went 3 for 4 in the Pirates' 4-3 win against the Giants.
1B — Freddie Freeman, Braves: Freeman went 3 for 5 with two runs, a home run and three RBIs in a big win over the Diamondbacks.
2B — Daniel Murphy, Mets: With a 4-for-5 effort, Murphy tied Ben Revere for second (behind Miguel Cabrera) with 12 four-hit games in the past four seasons. He also scored three runs, hit a home run and drove in three in a shutout win against the Padres.
SS — Jimmy Rollins, Dodgers: Rollins was a big part of the Dodgers' demolition of the Rockies. He went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and a solo home run.
3B — Luis Valbuena, Astros: Valbuena went 2 for 3 and clubbed his 11th home run of the season in another Houston win.
OF — Carlos Gomez, Brewers: Gomez went 2 for 4 and drove in the only run of the game as the Brewers beat the Cardinals, 1-0.
DH — Alex Rodriguez, Yankees: A-Rod went 1 for 3 with a run and a walk and is still hitting a very respectable .282 on the season.
SP — Jason Hammel, Cubs: Hammel pitched 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, including a career-high 11 strikeouts.
Key Injuries:
Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre has ben placed on the 15-day disabled list with a dislocated thumb, and is expected to miss 2-3 weeks.
Surprise Performers:
Good: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Mike Fiers: Fiers beat the Cardinals 1-0 after pitching six shutout innings even though it wasn't his turn to pitch. Matt Garza was scheduled to pitch, but actually earned the win in Sunday's 17-inning marathon, so Fiers got the call and answered it well.
Bad: Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez: After needing only 21 pitches to complete the first three innings, King Felix was bounced after 4 2/3 innings against the Yankees. He gave up seven earned runs (all in the fourth and fifth innings) with five walks and a grand slam to Mark Teixeira.
Web Gems:
Starlin Castro robs Dee Gordon of a hit:
Astros infielder Marwin Gonzalez spins and hits his target:
Spin for the win. pic.twitter.com/wT77OpCD34
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) June 2, 2015Angel Pagan shows no regard for his body:
Kolten Wong shows off his hops:
He's 5-foot-9 and can jump his height: http://t.co/xVQzetenBR pic.twitter.com/pINhsNHFT6
— MLB (@MLB) June 2, 2015Facts of the Day:
Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday has reached on a hit, walk or has been hit by a pitch in all 45 games this season, which is the fifth-longest streak to start season in baseball's modern era.
Joc Pederson leads all rookies with 14 home runs, and has hit them a long way:
.@Dodgers Joc Pederson hit a 450-foot HR today. He now leads MLB in average HR distance pic.twitter.com/2O8ZJvmLyl
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 2, 2015Clayton Kershaw notched the first three-hit game of his career.
Bad day at the office for the King:
Félix Hernández allowed 7 earned runs tonight. He allowed 7 total earned runs in April and 8 total earned runs in May
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 2, 2015To say Andrew Cashner was inconsistent Monday might be an understatement:
Andrew Cashner becomes 1st pitcher in @MLB history to have double-digit Ks and allow double-digit hits without making it through 5 IP.
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) June 2, 2015Reactions:
"I thought (Hammel) got better game-in-progress," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, via MLB.com. "I didn't want to take him out there, obviously. His stuff kept getting better. … He was outstanding."
"I think we expanded the strike zone," Miami manager Dan Jennings said. "That's the first time, really, in my time that we've done that. We chased some pitches out of the strike zone."
Off the Field:
The Rangers will call up third base prospect Joey Gallo on Tuesday. He has nine home runs in 34 games this season for Double-A Frisco.
Mariners outfielder Hisashi Iwakuma (lat) is on track to begin a rehab assignment in two weeks.
The Phillies released former All-Star outfielder Grady Sizemore on Monday.
Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Charlotte on Wednesday.
Marlins ace Jose Fernandez threw 42 pitches over three no-hit innings of an extended spring training game as he continues to work back from Tommy John surgery.
The Marlins optioned former closer Steve Cishek to Double-A Jacksonville with an abysmal 6.98 ERA and 1.86 WHIP with 10 walks over 19 1/3 innings.
Scores:
AL:
Twins, Red Sox PPD
NL:
Interleague:
Blue Jays, Nationals PPD
A Look Ahead: (All times Eastern)
Twins (30-19) at Red Sox (22-29) 7:10 p.m.: The opening game in the series was postponed due to rain on Monday, so the red-hot Twins will have to hope the day off didn't damper the flame. Mike Pelfrey (4-1, 2.77 ERA) will face off against Clay Buchholz (2-6, 4.33 ERA).
Astros (32-20) at Orioles (23-27) 8:10 p.m.: We doubt very many people had the Astros and Twins atop the A.L. through June 1. In fact, it wouldn't have been all that surprising, heading into the season, if those two teams were in last place. That's why we love baseball.
Rays (26-25) at Angels (28-24) 10:05 p.m.: Chris Archer (5-4, 2.12 ERA) faces off against C.J. Wilson (3-3, 3.18) in what's shaping up to be an exciting pitcher's duel. Wilson bounced back in his last start (six innings, one run, seven strikeouts) after allowing four earned in each of his last two starts.